it truly is an addiction

[Not Heidi]

Warning: TL;DR

I have to do something to get this anxiety out, so I write, and post it. Please know that I don't wish to offend anyone who has lived through addiction. Mine may be ridiculously mild compared to others, but it's hard to fight. I know it's not as hard to kick as other addictions, but in my life, it's the real thing.

I realized how bad it is because of what began last Thursday when my wife, Kathy, was admitted to the hospital. I always drink cola,* but beginning that day I started guzzling it. Truly guzzling it. Kathy was released today; on the way home she asked for a treat from 7-11. I also grabbed a bottle of cola. It was gone before we got home. It didn't take long for the craving to set in again.

Here I am, sitting in bed and trying hard to ignore the colas in the garage. The effort to quell the craving finally drove me to the meds for a prescribed anxiety pill. It hasn't kicked in yet.


* I won't use its name for fear of threats of lawsuits for defamation.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. To be fair, it isn't the soda, per se. It's the sweetener in it.

It used to be cane sugar that developed the nascent craving for more. Now it's high fructose corn syrup. The more you drink, the more you want it.

Just like alcohol, the more HFCS you consume, the more likely you are to develop an addiction—a craving for more food, an inability to stop eating, a preoccupation with the next meal, and withdrawal symptoms when you stop.

High fructose corn syrup should be avoided if you are trying to step off the roller coaster of food addiction.

-more-

https://www.psychiatryredefined.org/what-not-eat-high-fructose-corn-syrup/

[Irish_Dem]

2. It's the caffeine, sugar, carbonation.

It's my drug of choice.
I don't smoke, drink, or do drugs.

Except for Coca Cola.

And it has to be in bottles or from a fountain.

[Skittles]

3. just so you know

I only drink the carbonated naturally flavored drinks and I swear it is the carbonation I crave

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Point taken.

That being said, I can understand flavored seltzer drinks like Polar.

[Skittles]

5. don't get me wrong, I'd much rather have a diet soda

but I'm leery of drinking so much of those sweeteners, I do tend to drink a lot of soda (especially during Texas summers).......

[Rizen]

6. Sugar is extremely addictive

and so are many other chemicals in cola. I'm trying to eat healthier myself. The best thing you can do is drink a ton of water. If you get a craving, drink a glass of water. You'll have to pee like a racehorse but it's very healthy. I also chew a lot of sugarfree gum like Trident. It's five calories a piece, not bad for your teeth and it tastes pretty good. I buy it in bulk every time I go to king soopers.

[Not Heidi]

7. Thank you

to everyone who weighed in. I appreciate your sharing your experiences. Too, thank you for telling me about your drinking simply carbonated waters - I like those. My sister, who lives with my wife and me, Kathy, keeps those drinks stocked and encourages me to drink them.